Acute Pancreatitis

Do as they say. NO ALCOHOL ever again. When your sick go to liquid diet. 

I’d go to someone who specializes in pancreatitis!!!  Not everyone understands !

Hope your feeling better soon.  After 4.5 mos I am finally feeling like I am getting my life back. 

I've had chronic pancreatitis for years (so I've been told many times) and I've had acute enough times that I know what you're going through. Not fun, but listen to what the previous response stated. Don't drink! Don't worry, I don't have any 12 steps for you, lol. Just don't let it get chronic! Quality of life just goes down the drain. Just wanted to give you a heads up and wish you well. Good luck getting out of this...

The first step is to get a referral to a gastroenterologist who specialises in the pancreas, that's extremely important.

If your GP doesn't know anyone off hand, you call your closest large training hospital and ask who their pancreas specialist is and organise an appointment.

In the meantime it's very important that you learn how to manage pancreatitis.  Stop alcohol immediately and preferably forever.  Change to a low fat diet, that's the key for day to day management and isn't debatable, you must change your diet.  Stop smoking, the pancreas hates it and it is one way pancreatitis can get cancerous.

Eat small low fat meals throughout the day rather than 3 larger meals a day as we've been brought up to do.  

Speak to your GP about getting some digestive enzymes like Creon and take immediately before eating any food at all whilst waiting for appointment with pancreas specialist.  The amount you take is based on what works for you, there's no set amount, if 40,000 works, fine, if not take more until you work it out.  The benefit is obvious once level is sorted. 

When the pancreas is failing or in trouble it doesn't produce the enzymes required to digest food so the enzymes help enormously and may prevent malnutrition.  It's common to have vitamin deficiencies which can lead to other serious medical issues.

It can take ages to feel better after an attack, eat small low fat, take digestive enzymes and don't touch alcohol or smoke and it may gradually improve.

You don't tell us much about your diagnosis, whether it's acute or chronic (based on your CT).  If acute you may be able to stop it progessing, if chronic it is progressive but can be managed depending on what the problem is.

Either way the above steps are necessary.  Do some reading.  Good luck.

Wanda,

I'm very sorry to hear this. I understand how you feel. You don't mention if you are in  pain which can be very severe with pancreatitis. 

Did they identify the cause? That's important.  The first time I had it, I was hysterical with pain and my lipase kept rising. Even with no food by mouth. Eating or drinking anything during an acute case can make it worse. You have to stop all of it til it calms down. In my case they said I must be an alcoholic because it's that or a gallstone. No stone so they kept asking me about alcohol. Very frustrating. The GI Doctor was great and tried several tests. Finally after a month in the hospital I could feel I wasn't going to make it. I begged him to find the problem. My lipase was 15,000.  He looked at me and said ok I'm going to try one more test. He did a scan 

that tests function. I forgot the name. HIDA scan or something. Turns out my gallbladder didn't have a stone but it wasn't working! Which they could not see just in a picture of course 

I think because they took so long to identify the problem I'm in the state I am now. I've had about 60 ER visits and months of hospitalization. I now have chronic pancreatitis. 

I know you must be very nervous because of your family history. I would think just finding the cause and trying to fix that may help. If you want to talk about this let me know. This has overtaken my life unfortunately. So I have lots of first hand experience. Please try not to think of the worst. I'll keep you in my prayers. 

S